Since 2010, the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer has been observed annually on 24 January. AIJA is a member of the Coalition for the Day of the Endangered Lawyer, a network of national and international legal organisations and bar associations that annually organises the Day. The Day aims to draw attention to situations in which lawyers face obstruction, pressure, or personal risk in the course of their professional duties. Each year, the initiative focuses on a particular jurisdiction as a means of examining broader challenges affecting the legal profession globally.
In 2026, the Day of the Endangered Lawyer will focus on the United States. A report will be published that describes developments affecting the professional environment in which lawyers operate, including pressures on legal representation, judicial and prosecutorial independence, and professional self-regulation. It highlights concerns about the cumulative impact such pressures may have on access to justice, the independence of legal institutions and the effective functioning of the rule of law.
The Coalition organises an online press conference presenting the report on 22 January 2026.
In addition, members of the Coalition organise events such as webinars, seminars, protests and rallies. AIJA organises a sporting challenge that AIJA members and anyone interested can participate in to draw attention to the day and collect donations for Advocats Sans Frontières, an NGO that aims to defend human rights and the rule of law worldwide. For more information on the Challenge, see here.
Here is a list of some of the initiatives and events organised in relation to the Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2026:
- AIJA - Human Rights Challenge (9-24 January)
- Coalition for the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer (22 January) - Online Press conference
- New York City Bar (20 January) - In person seminar, New York
- The Law Society of England and Wales and BIICL (20 January) - In person event, London
- Advocats Sans Frontières and other organisations: see here and here (23 January) - Protest, Brussels
- Nuremberg Amnesty International legal group and other organisations (24 January) - In person seminar, Nuremberg
- Deutschen Anwaltverein and other organisations (27 January) - In person seminar, Berlin
- Taskforce for American Democracy (ABA) (14 January) – webinar (organised separate from the DEL 2026 but on a related topic)
- EYBA and Lawyers for Lawyers (22 January) – Webinar
- Jonge Balie Midden Nederland and Lawyers for Lawyers – In person seminar, Utrecht
The AIJA Human Rights Committee encourages all AIJA members to participate in any activity around the Day of the Endangered Lawyer 2026.